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Kyoto Nightlife

Reviews and photos of Kyoto bars and nightclubs posted by real travelers and Kyoto locals.
Local Time 11:06 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Kyoto NightlifeTips 61 - 68 of 68  
Popular Nightlife | Miscellaneous Nightlife Tips | All Tips (68)
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Pontocho: Fun nighttime stroll
  • By shenandoah on November 18, 2002
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  • Pontocho is a narrow (about a meter wide) little alley that runs between Shijo and Sanjo near the river, and it is full of fascinating little bars, restaurants and yakitori joints for every budget. If you're a photographer, you may enjoy taking pictures of the great doorways and lanterns. Stop and enjoy the food, too!

    You'll see some people quite dressed up, but you can generally judge by the doorway about each individual establishment.

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: near Sanjo and Shijo Keihan train stations
  • Directions: east side of Kyoto

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    Pub Africa: Nice bar - but why the name?!
  • Updated By lotta29 on December 9, 2005
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  • Pub Africa - Kyoto
    Pub Africa
    by lotta29
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    Except for some of the decorations this bar made me think of many things but definitely not the continent its name refers to. Then again, I had never been to a pub named Africa with music from Mariah Carey to Whitney Houston and three TVs and a big screen showing soccer, Japanese soap opera, a nature document and something close to CSI all at the same time!
    So Pub Africa's a small bar in Kyoto's entertainment district. I ended up there cause we were looking for a place to have a few beers in with an American girl and...well...actually I don't even know why we picked up exactly this place!! But the point is, we were happy with the choice and especially the happy hour specials (almost everything half price!!) so I do recommend. The place was filled with mostly local young people at least around 11 pm when we had to leave. Even the normal prices weren't too high (around 500 Y / $5 US for a beer). Some of the tables were in nice little "caves" - looked pretty cozy =)

    Check out the website - there's some more info

    Seemed like there's none

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Phone: (075) 255 4518
  • Directions: On Rokkaku street between Kamo river and Kawaramachi street
  • Website: http://www.japanvisitor.com/restaurants/pubafrica.html

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    Rub-A-Dub: A nice underground reggae joint
  • By jasmin718 on April 13, 2007
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  • This place is pretty small but they serve Red Stripe and play reeeeeeaaally good reggae.. old and new school. The staff is really friendly and the crowd is hip but not tragically hip. The owners of this place throw a GREAT reggae party every Thursday at a club called Metro - definitely ask the bartender at rub-a-dub about it... its worth it

    none

  • Theme: Nightclub
  • Address: Kiyamachi-d?ri-Sanj? sagaru ishiyamachi 115 BF
  • Phone: 075 256 3122
  • Directions: south of Sanjo Street. Look for the steps heading down to this basement bar.
  • Website: http://www.rubadub.org/index.html

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    Sanjo-Dori Bridge: Chilling by the river
  • Updated By Statixc on October 27, 2004
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  • Next to the Sanjo-dori Bridge - Kyoto
    Next to the Sanjo-dori Bridge
    by Statixc
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    At night, everyone in Kyoto seems to hang out at the river near the Sanjo-dori Bridge. There are no open container laws in Japan, so everyone goes to the convience store, buys a couple Chu-hi (Japanese alcoholic beverage, try it, comes in many flavors) or something comparible, and hangs out. People shoot fire works, and have a good time. It is very relaxing.

    Whatever you want. I recommend pants, because it gets a bit cooler in the evening, and they'll keep the misquitoes away. It is a little sandy there, so don't wear something too nice.

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: Under the Sanjo-dori bridge

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    Soware: mmm... coffee!
  • Updated By j-san on February 5, 2003
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  • loved the coffee here! - Kyoto
    loved the coffee here!
    by j-san
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    In case you didn't know it, Japan is in a coffee boom. But as much as I'm fond of Starbucks (there are now 5 of them just in central Kyoto! And also Tulley's... ) it's lovely to go somewhere with a little more character. You will find coffee houses all over Kyoto! See if you can find one that suits you!

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  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: (see above)

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    The Matching Temple: See the night lanterns at the Matching Temple
  • Updated By joiwatani on December 29, 2007
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  • The beautiful Matching Temple at night - Kyoto
    The beautiful Matching Temple
    at night
    by joiwatani, 1 more photos
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    So you think I will recommend a nightclub, ha? Sorry, buddy! I rather want you to go to the Matching Temple and see the night lanterns! It is so beautiful when they lighted all those lanterns up! It was gorgeous!

    Anyway, we went there and took a long walk to the shrine. It was a beautiful walk. It was very invigorating (I needed the walk to lose some pounds!).

    We were in the temple around five in the afternoon and ended up walking for about an hour int it's scenic garden. It was getting dark when we were leaving. We were pleasantly surprised when we went out to the main gate because the temple keepers lighted up all the red and white lanterns! The temple was more beautiful at night!

    Dress warmly especially when you go to the Temple in the Fall!

  • Theme: Other
  • Address: Kyoto, Japan
  • Directions: From the Kyoto Bus Station, take bus number 100.

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    The Pig & Whistle: Place to meet ex-pats and other foreigners.
  • By trvlrtom on April 18, 2008
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  • The Pig & Whistle, Kyoto - Kyoto
    The Pig & Whistle, Kyoto
    by trvlrtom
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    From the street the Pig & Whistle doesn't look at all like an English pub; it's located on the second floor of a nondescript building on a typical downtown Kyoto street. What you will find, however, is a busy spot popular with expatriates and travelers, a good place to hang out and share stories and have conversations in English. With so much great food in Japanese restaurants nearby, we didn't bother to try the food, but the menu showed fish and chips, pizza and lasagna etc. There's a good selection of domestic and imported beers and cocktails, but I was disappointed that they didn't have a bitter on draft. The bartender said that would be coming in a few weeks.

    casual

  • Theme: Eating and Drinking
  • Address: 2nd Floor Shobi Building, 115 Ohashi-cho
  • Phone: +81 075 761 6022
  • Directions: Directly across from the Sanjo-Keihan subway station, close to the river.

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    The Victory Donkey (maybe): Kyoto Nightlife "wakada nai"
  • By SHOCKZ on June 2, 2005
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  • ehto, where to eat? - Kyoto
    ehto, where to eat?
    by SHOCKZ
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    I have yet to experience the Kyoto club scene. Usually after a day of hiking up mountains to see temple after temple i'm exausted, so the last thing on my mind is cuttin' up a rug on a dance floor. But in the evening there's heaps of good restaurants for you to get your grub on. If you don't dig the whole traditional japanese food thing like myself then there is a restaurant called the 'Victory Donkey" or somethin' like that. It serves huge ass hambugers (minus the bun) with a side of salad and fries for a relatively cheap price. Greasy but tasty! The perfect remedy for the feeling of fatigued after a long day of temple searching.

    Sweat stains on the armpits is expected from a tourist so its maybe okay

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  • Theme: Eating and Drinking

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